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.UNITED STATES ATENI Erica EDW'ARD F. BAKE-R, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO MARGARET M. BAKER," OF SAME PLACE,

MANUFAQTU RE OF FLY-PAPER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 295,220, dated March 18,1884;

Application filed August 17, 1883. (Specimens) F or whom it 112,111; cancer z:

Be it known that I, Enwnnn F. BAKER, of

- Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois,

have invented or discovered certain new and useful Improvements in the Art of Manufacturing Fly-Paper, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, that will enable others to understand and make use of the same.

This invention relates to improvements in what is known to the trade as sticky flypaper, the object being to so prepare and apply an adhesive composition to the surface of the paper that the same will not become dry or granulated, but will retain its sticky nature indefinitely when. packed in cases for shipment or storage, and will also remain in a moist, sticky condition for a number of days after being exposed to the atmosphere. The objections to be overcome in the preparation of an article of this nature are, first, the heating of the adhesive composition in such .a manner and to such. a degree of temperature in the process of melting or reducing the same to a liquid state as to. not destroy its valuable qualities or crisp the paper when applied to the surface; second, the means for or manner of applying the mixture or composition to the paper.

In the manufacture of this class of goods it has ordinarily been the custom to place the several ingredients entering into the composition in a suitable vessel, and expose the extenor surface of sa1d vessel to the direct action of the fire. This method is objectionable, for the reason that it is impossible to maintain a uniform temperature, and the mixture is very liable to become overheated anddestroy its merchautable qualities. The application of the adhesive composition to the paper was usually done by means of a brush, which was objectionable, for the reason that it could not be evenly or smoothly spread over the surface of the paper or confined to certain limits.

It will be readily understood from the nature of this class of goods and the low price to which it is restricted in the market that it must be manufactured in the most expeditious and cheapest manner-possible. Aft-er suffering considerable loss by having unmerchant able goods returned, I made repeatedexperiments, and have finally overcome the above objections by subjecting the vessel containing the composition to steam heat, which was found to maintain a uniform and at the same time the right degree of temperature to properly fuse the ingredients composing the composition without danger of impairing the good qualities by a high temperature, and also avoids the trouble and annoyance of crisping the paper by too hot an application. This manner of heating the composition likewise saves the constant watching necessary to prevent burning when applying the heat direct, as it is not possible to heat the composition beyond a certain degree. The composition may also be maintained at the boiling-point by placing the vessel containing the same inside of another and larger vessel, and filling the space between the two with water or other liquid, and raising the temperature of the same tothe boiling-point by the direct application of heat to the outer inclosing-vessel.

In the place of a brush I make use of a hand-roller in applying the composition to the surface of the paper, one contact of which is suflicient to transfer the right amount of the mixture, and "at the same time evenly and smoothly, which, if it were possible, would require too much time to do with the aid of a brush. This roller will ordinarily be made of hard wood; but any other suitable material may be used for the purpose, the essential feature being to provide a roller having a surface of a certain degree of hardness, that when dipped into the composition about the right amount of the mixture will adhere to the same as will be required to cover a sheet of paper of the usual size. It is very essential that too much of the composition be not applied, nor too close to the edges of the paper, for the reason that the sheets are laid one on top of another and packed in cases, and if too much of the composition is used or it is spread too near the edges it would be expressed between the edges and the different sheet-s would adhere to each other, and the result would be an unmerchantable product and represent a complete loss to the producer. The sheet or sheets of paper to which the mixture is applied IOO are laid down on a flat surface, and after the same is coated with the composition the sheet is creased along the middle and folded over upon itself, thus forming a double sheet, having a sticky surface 011 the inside only. When the paper is required for use, this double sheet may be easily separated by grasping two corners and gently pulling in opposite directions.

In the preparation of this product the roller is first dipped into the composition, and then run over the surface of the paper to be coated, the composition being so applied to a single sheet as to leave a clear space or narrow surface in the center, running from the bottom to the top, free from the adhesive mixture, so that when the single sheet is folded over to form a double one a clear space is left between the inner edges of the two coated contaeting surfaces, thus preventing the sheet from thickening at the point where the same is creased by folding, and at the same time allowing the paper to separate nicely and lie perfectly flat when required for use. The composition employed is harmless in its nature, consisting of castor-oil and resin, the desired effect being produced by the flies sticking to the paper as they light on the same, and when full the sheets may be destroyed and replaced by others, thus permitting the paper to be used under any and all circumstances, and removing the objections entertained against this class of goods by reason of a poisonous manufacture of a similar nature.

The dimensions of a sheet of this fly-paper are ordinarily seventeen by twenty-two inches, and when prepared and folded are eight and a half by eleven inches.

The longitudinal surface of the roller should equal the Width of the surface to be covered, thus guarding against a too near approach to and remaining a uniform distance from the edge of the paper and leaving a margin on all sides, which is not possible to do when using a brush.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 1s

1. As an improvement in the art of manufacturing fly paper, the method herein (le scribed, which consists of fusing the composition by means of the application of steam or other indirect-heat, so as to maintain the composition at a regular degree of temperature, and finally applying the composition to the surface of the paper by means of a roller, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. As a new article of manufacture, fly-paper, when prepared in the manner herein set forth.

EDWVARD F. BAKER.

Witnesses:

J. A. FREEMAN, O. COUPLAND. 

